Five music industry judges sifted through hundreds of nominated songs to come up with this year’s shortlist. Now it’s up to the public to choose the winners.

KMA president Chad Hansen was thrilled to see the musical diversity in the Artist of the Year category.

“We’ve got an opera, two big folk-stomp bands, an electronic producer and a singer-songwriter going head-to-head,” he said. “It just goes to show the range of talent we have in the region. Whatever type of music you like, you can find somebody here doing it really well.”

Shortlisted artists come from all corners of the Kootenays, including Castlegar’s folk/country duo Motes and Oats. The Good Ol’ Goats from Cranbrook show up in the “Best Roots and Blues” and “Artist of the Year” categories, Golden’s WakCutt is on the list for “Best DJ” and the Slocan Valley’s Immune 2 Cobras is hoping for “Best New Artist” and “Best Punk/Rock/Metal.”

There’s a huge representation from Nelson artists. KHAOS, the opera written by Don Macdonald, is nominated in three categories. Tofu Stravinsky and James Lamb are both up for “Album of the Year” and Selkirk music student Dylan McPherson is going for “Best New Artist.”

To listen to tracks from all the contenders and place your vote go to kootenaymusicawards.com and click “Nominate” on the page banner, then “Vote now.”

There’s a play button under each artist’s picture that you can click to listen to their music. When you’ve picked your favourite, register for an account and start voting.

The voting period closes on April 30 and the winners will be announced at an award show at Spiritbar in Nelson on May 10.